Month: November 2020

A CELEBRATION OF “AFRICAN MEN” CHANGE-MAKERS LEADING CHANGE IN DEVELOPMENT ACROSS AFRICA- MEET AFRICA’S 40 IMPACTFUL MEN IN THE DEVELOPMENT SECTOR.

 

Just like the African proverb, “A vision on its own is not enough, hard work & dedication is required to make that vision a reality”. Today, we are celebrating 40 great African men leading the “African Renaissance” with their vision, action, and impact. They are transforming Africa through their work and action. 

Forty impactful men working actively in development across the continent of Africa were selected and celebrated to commemorate the “International Men’s Day Celebration”.

They represent a truly pan-African diversity from different African countries. The list highlights 40 great men that are actively leading the development sector, impacting their local communities through their work in international and local organizations, private and public sector companies, nonprofit organizations, and health. This recognition is unique as there is a need for increased focus and investment in the men who are leading development conversations in unconventional roles in Africa.

Nominations were received publicly to identify men in varying roles in development from different African countries, and 40 young men were selected to join the list of Africans leading change in development. 

 

Mrs. Chidi Koldsweat, the Founder, Donors for Africa Foundation, says, “These men were nominated, selected, and celebrated based on their achievement, great impact, and commitment towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Every man on the list can be identified and tangible results were seen in their local communities as making a difference.

We were also careful to identify men in the formal development sector who may not be founders but are equally using their skills and competence to create life-changing results’’. 

 

We believe it is imperative to shine the light on these men’s various roles as they work continuously to accelerate the #2030 Sustainable Development Goal and the #2063 African Union Agenda.’’

 

The selected men are:

Ayodeji Ojo: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH5mAOSlTgl/

Mawuli Dake: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH43bielh2u/

Tony Elumelu: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH4orNzlPan/

Mezou Nwuneli: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH5JgTZF-Wf/

Dr. Chinonso Egemba: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH5Kqv7FGUG/

Innocent Chukwuma: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH5F4wrFQAU/

Dr. Arc Raphael Ajalie: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH477BjFIX7/

Runcie Chidebe: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH48p_MlrZ9/

Michael Ajayi: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH4ztuNF9HX/

Buffy Okeke-Ojiudu: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH5FYMWFqv5/

Bello Bissalla: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH5JJTWFKSo/

Sola Mathew Akinluyi: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH4v6xdFRgJ/

Oje Ivagba: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH44CjYlh4K/

Tochukwu Clinton Chukwueke: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH4_I1glqBt/

Michael Sunbola: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH4rBJElnhg/

Somto Mbelu: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH4mqgPFJMt/

Fela Akinse: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH4mBhLF27B/

Femi Martins: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH4zMqGlcex/

Oyindamola Johnson: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH4n5O0F3FJ/

Kamil Olufowobi: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH40XLfFTXc/

Olusola Samuel Owonikoko: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH42sHYFpRO/

Shamwil Hassan: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH4vJQVlmhU/

Sola Mathew Akinluyi: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH4v6xdFRgJ/

Henry Anumudu: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH4qlSFF9OZ/

Wilson Ayinbangya Amooro: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH4pywJFXnh/

Emmanuel Agunze: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH4pTCEl22v/

Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH45fYfl1tS/

Seun Yusuff: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH4tvtll2Ww/

Orondaam Otto: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH4nbdXFmex/

Tatenda Maposa: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH4uRI7Fimb/

Sizi Botsime: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH4wi0playV/

Samuel Malinga: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH4lmcqFrDw/

Bankole Williams: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH4x4zElPdd/

Alexander Akhigbe: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH49gzcFoVH/

Kingsley Iweka: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH5BGUGlQQ-/

Gbenga Sesan: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH5DK7mFsyq/

Joseph Awhinawhi: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH5AZ4-FU6W/

Fred Swaniker: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH5E_QJly7s/

Victor Ochen: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH46Y8mlmoE/

Tochukwu Egesi: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH47S8rlQtC/

Faith Abiodun: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH5LSMWFiYL/

Barclay Paul Okari: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH5EgHOllaf/

Dr. Abiodun Adereni: https://www.instagram.com/p/CH4yv7cl2V1/

 

We celebrate them for their consistency and commitments towards making the African continent and the entire world a better place and we are set to make this an annual announcement so that more men from indigenous committees across Africa, can be identified, honored, and celebrated. 

 

ABOUT DONORS FOR AFRICA FOUNDATION

Donors for Africa Foundation is a nonprofit organization that works actively with governments, NGOs, social impact leaders, the private sector, philanthropy organizations, and investors to break cycles of poverty.

We design solutions for Africans to impact their indigenous communities. We are passionate about helping to find long term innovative methodologies to achieve the SDGs and ensure accessible opportunities for individuals on the African continent.

We are the go-to organization in Africa for all your globalized training, resources, donor engagement, and project hub on all SDG and Agenda 2063 conversations. We provide a platform for humanitarian and development practitioners across Africa to share experience, expertise, and gain new insights. 

• We reach 22,000 unique global development accounts weekly with trending industry news, grant opportunities, and information to improve their competence and scale up their impact globally.
• Launched the premier digital Bootcamp and accelerator programs for social innovators in Africa and continue to teach, train and empower development organizations across Africa
• We have raised $349,500 to fund local projects that have;

          Trained over 5000 women from marginalized communities

           Build libraries in garbage centered communities

           Launched digital platforms that connect person’s living with

disabilities to career opportunities

          Trained 532 development actors on strategies and tips to build stronger local institutions

 

For more information, please contact mail@donorsforafricafoundation.org/ 09021851964/ Instagram @donorsforafrica,  LinkedIn Donors For Africa.

Africa Mask Week

Tell us about yourself?

My name is Daisy Enekole Ibilola Yusuf, I am the Co-Founder/Chief Operating Officer of Siloan Medical Centre & Founder, Accessible Care for Everyone Initiative.

I’m innovative, proactive, and highly intelligent lawyer with post-graduate qualifications in Business Management and Leadership, Consulting, International Investment Law, Corporate Commercial Law, and Non – Profit Management and Project management in Global Health. 

I am also the Co-founder/COO of Siloan Medical Center a private hospital helping to achieve the universal health coverage target for sustainable development by ensuring that indigent communities have access to quality health care services at very affordable rates. I also founded the organization- Accessible Health for everyone (ACE) Initiative an NGO that has provided medical support, education, and advocacy to over 7000 Nigerians especially women and children.

I have over 15 years of experience in volunteering and working with other NGOs such as International Missions Opportunities where I work on medical projects in Northern Nigeria which accounts for over 200 life-changing surgeries every year.

I serve Life foundation as their legal adviser and also serve Youth with a Purpose (YWAP) as a mentor.

I love art and love all forms of arts but I have no artistic skills whatsoever.

 

Tell us about your organization, impacts, and achievements since establishment?

Accessible Care for Everyone (ACE) was founded in March 2019.
The vision of the organization is to see an Africa where everyone has unfettered access to quality health care irrespective of their social and economic status and it does this by providing; community enlightenment on prevalent medical issues, essential medical supplies, medical aid, quality and essential healthcare services, and by providing educational materials and training for healthcare workers.

ACE carries out its vision using three pillars;
Community Support Services, Advocacy, and Education.
As an organization, ACE had over 4 years of relevant documented program experiences before the initiative was incorporated in 2019.

The Organization runs on two thematic areas of Health and Education as her pivotal points and has deliberately designed program interventions to reach her target beneficiaries i.e.
– the most vulnerable members of the society; women and children. ACE has held over 10 projects; which includes health gatherings, food drives, and medical outreaches since its inception, some in collaborations with other foundations such as International Missions Opportunities, LIFE Foundation, and EL-Harris and has supported many more organizations.

ACE has trained both locally and internationally, over 50 traditional health practitioners and local midwives on contemporary healthcare practices has dispensed free medical care to over 5,000 people, sensitized and provided materials to protect over 1350 women from 5 leading cause of death in pregnancy and childbirth associated dangers and records an average of 200 free surgeries every year in partnership with other medical organizations.

During the wake of the pandemic and the effect on the health of Nigerians, the organization ran a free mobile clinic which attended to the health needs of over 2000 Nigerians and provided protective medical resources to traditional health practitioners and local
midwives and with the rise of hunger-related illness witnessed during our outreaches, ACE provided food and health care services for over 300 families in some communities such as Agodo, Mushin, Isolo and Ejigbo in Lagos State.

During the outreaches, drugs and foodstuff were also given to 10 orphanages in Lekki, Ajah, Surulere, and Yaba in Lagos State.

 

What advice can you give to young people who want to build a career in the development sector?

“Seek to know”

 Passion is not enough and can be exhausted.

Without the right knowledge (managerial and technical know-how) you will fail at reaching your full potential and be shy of achieving your vision. Learn, Learn, Learn. Enroll in classes, understudy organizations who have achieved the same or similar feats.

 There is more to running an NGO than planning successful programs. There is an entire structure that makes the NGO sustainable and able to scale for impact.

 

How has been your participation in the inner circle program or other programs prepared you for opportunities ahead?

It has been eye-opening, educative, and extremely supportive.
It like the treasure map that leads you to exactly what you need and teaches you how to apply what you know to translate knowledge gained into achievements.

It has also taught me how to identify and maximize opportunities, how to attract grade-A – A volunteers, and how to channel their skills into productive outcomes aimed at the vision of our organization.

 

Are there any ongoing projects your organization is working on at the moment? Please share it with us.

We are giving away 1000 Ace care packages (antenatal and delivery kits) to 1000 pregnant women in disadvantaged communities. The pandemic hit us all hard but being pregnant and in a disadvantaged community (where you struggle with the basic needs), the pandemic hits worse.
We hope to help in this little way.

 

To know more about Daisy, and her amazing work in the development sector, you can follow her on social media platforms:

@ACEinitiativehq (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter).

Tell us about yourself?

Mu name is Omolara Ajetunmobi, I’m a business-oriented entrepreneur and a humanitarian, whose work cut across inclusiveness for children living with disabilities and the less privileged in Nigeria. I am the Founder and Chief Strategist Officer of You Matter to Us Foundation, where I plan and coordinates impactful events for special kids. In my role as the Founder of You matter to Us Foundation, I raise funds for the less privileged, plans projects that align with the foundation’s mission and goals.

In 2017 my organization received an award from the Lagos State Ministry of Education in recognition for their donations and gifts to persons living with disabilities in all state special schools and inclusive units, also in March 2020, I was recognized by Donors for Africa in celebration of 50 African Women in Development during the International Women’s Day for the impactful work done.

I am also the CEO of Ideas and Smiles Concepts an event planning and project company that was founded in 2008, I have planned and coordinated over 40 weddings locally and internationally before diverting into managing and coordinating projects for individuals and companies. While running my company in the background, I was a contract staff with British Council as a venue staff for 7 years, I also served as the Director of Administration for four years with Platinum Vision Production to mention a few.

I am an Alumnus of China Europe international business School, Shanghai in the WELA Program 2019 cohort and Alibaba Business School Hangzhou. I hold a leadership certificate for the basic leadership training at Daystar Leadership Academy.

I am ardent about humanity; thus I have made other humanitarian contributions to children living in slums by contributing to their education and standard of living.

 

Tell us about your organization, impacts, and achievements since establishment?

You Matter To Us Foundation (YMTUF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to upholding the rights of children living with disabilities and to end their exclusion from society. The foundation evolved from the annual charity project hitherto undertaken by Ideas and Smiles Concepts up till 2019. The Foundation started because of neglect faced by the less privileged children and children with disabilities. In Nigeria most especially, children with disabilities are one of the most marginalized and excluded groups in society.

Our vision is to create a world where every child living with physical disabilities has equal opportunity to access the world.
Our mission is to improve the well-being of children living with disabilities through empowerment, edutainment, and advocacy for an inclusive society.

Since inception, the You Matter To Us Foundation has impacted over 25,000 children with disabilities, visited 64 schools for children with disabilities and orphanage homes consecutive for four years in over 10 Local Government Areas in Lagos Mainland.

Over the years, You Matter To Us Foundation has created exciting and long-lasting impactful programs and activities that ensure the vision of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) is a reality for less privileged children and children living with disabilities in Nigeria in partnership with different brands and Lagos State Government/Ministry of Education and they all centered around our belief in the ability of special children and their potential to rise above their challenges to become important and useful members in the society in future.

You Matter To Us Foundation remains focused on making an impact through community outreach, empowerment programs, and edutainment to advocate inclusive society for children with disabilities.

 

What advice can you give to young people who want to build a career in the development sector?

Take time to understand, learn, Collaborate and connect with the right stakeholders,  then start with a proper structure in place.

 

How has been your participation in the inner circle program or other programs prepared you for opportunities ahead?

I’m a work in progress and the inner circle is helping me to have a solid foundation in my development journey.

 

Are there any ongoing projects your organization is working on at the moment? Please share it with us.

We are planning our annual Christmas party to reach out to 1000 children living with disability in Lagos and 100 children in Ibadan.

To know more about Omolara, and her amazing work in the development sector, you can follow her on social media platforms:

https://www.instagram.com/youmattertousfoundation/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/omolara-ajetunmobi-847725a/

Tell us about yourself?

My name is Eniola Adefioye-Olugbake, the founder of Tributary Initiative for Learning non-profit institution where I work to strengthen the capability of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and centers to achieve set development objectives especially in improving the stakeholders access to decent work and productive employment.

I am a certified Life coach with a keen interest in Life coaching, NeuroLinguistic programming, and emotional intelligence. I am also a TVET expert and; a DACUM Facilitator and SCID practitioner trained at the Centre on Education and Training for Employment, Ohio State University. I hold a BA degree in English and Philosophy from Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife Osun State.

 

Tell us about your organization, impacts, and achievements since the establishment?

Tributary Initiative for Learning (TRIL) is a non-profit that connects people to opportunity and development.

We envision skilled young persons in Africa achieving productive employment and decent work through TVET. We accomplished this by strengthening the capacity of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and public secondary schools through curriculum review and upgrade; teachers training, industry engagement to achieve their development objectives, and enterprise model development for sustainability.

Our programs ensure inclusive, equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities in the communities we serve.

Since its inception in December 2016, 

• We have impacted 10 educations sites and successfully moved them to a viable and sustainable state.
• We have trained 300+ teachers to deliver competency-based education and assessment to facilitate trainees’ professional competence attainment. 
• We have facilitated the placement of 440 young persons in jobs.
• We have been able to increase the general performance pass rate of Wesley Junior secondary school between 2017 -2019 from 32% baseline to 68%
• The number of school dropouts and absenteeism also significantly reduced

 

What advice can you give to young people who want to build a career in the development sector?

Once you have figured out the issues you want to support or solve, go all out for it! Develop your dept in it to gain expertise and adopt best practices. Africa needs social innovations that are committed to eradicating poverty, inequality protecting our environment, and embracing inclusion with a deep understanding of issues and sustainable solutions.

 

How has been your participation in the inner circle program or other programs prepared you for opportunities ahead?

The experience has significantly increased my confidence. I am encouraged to give as much as I know, even more. I have a better understanding of my role as a development person and be able to -and still in the process- put together documentation for my organization which has helped to put us in an adequate space and legitimize our expertise.

 

Are there any ongoing projects your organization is working on at the moment? Please share it with us.

Technical Trade Education for Secondary schools: The project is an early intervention to curbing early youth unemployment. The project seeks to support public schools in providing students with vocational competencies in technical trade subjects to secure gainful employment in their communities. It also provides a launching platform for further education and entrepreneurship.

The project will 

• Bring up to speed trade teachers knowledge and skills on industry practices and technologies, 
• Improve the learning environment to accommodate hands-on skills training
• Collaborate with the private sector to develop demand-driven curriculums
• Facilitate internships and job placement, startups for innovation and entrepreneurship
• Pop up centers for career guidance 

Teachplus Academy program: The program supports TVET institutions and centers to attain set development objectives. Some of the work we do with them are:

• Organizational competency profiling and reporting
• Capacity development for competency-based training and assessment 
• Standardized market-relevant training and curriculum
• Quality program to increase stakeholder’s access to employment
• Viable and sustainable institution
• Forge Coalition between the centers and industries for support in work-based learning and advisory capacity.
• Improve in-service teachers professional competency

The Education and Employment Development (TEED) Forum is an annual multi-stakeholder platform where we discuss urgent development challenges in Nigeria. It provides opportunities for networking and coalitions to connect the actors to learn, share knowledge, and evidence-based sustainable solutions. The outcomes from TEEDForum serve as advocacy tools to engage the government for policy changes in the education and employment space.

 

To know more about Eniola, and her amazing work in the development sector, you can follow her on social media platforms:

@enioladefioye @trilearningorg

https://www.instagram.com/trilearningorg/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eniola-adefioye-4975863/

Tell us about your self?

My name is Morolayo Akpuluma. I am a bi-lingual (Russian/English translator) Executive and health advocate with extensive knowledge and training as a Pharmacist. I have over nine years of experience in multiple Government and Stakeholder engagements.

I am the founder and Executive Director of Gold Health Initiative and I’m passionate about creating a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future for all.

I am currently studying for a second Masters Degree in Public Health because of my passion (my care for the greater good of human beings). I want to contribute my quota in improving the conditions and behaviors that affect health so that everybody (particularly the vulnerable in society) can attain it.

I am married and I’ve two children. I enjoy reading and traveling.

 

Tell us about your organization?

The Gold Health Initiative is a registered non-profit Organization that supports Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 6. The Initiative creates awareness around hygiene and sanitation projects, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and mental health.

We envision an Africa where every individual – even in the most remote areas live healthier and longer lives.

To achieve our vision, our work is centered around three pillars:-

• Hygiene and sanitation
• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) awareness
• Mental Health

We do all of this by providing;

HYGIENE AWARENESS

1. Infrastructural support – We Build hand wash stations and also provide hygiene kits and anti-bacterial products. 
2. Education/Sensitization Programs – We organize community talks on communicable infections. We also take our sensitization campaign to schools (mainly primary and secondary schools). 

ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AWARENESS

1. Creating awareness – Blog writing

                                            Social Media videos

                                            E-books 

                                            Enlightening talks 

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS 

1. Sensitization – Organizing talks in communities
2. Blog writing
3. E-books and booklets
4. Education – Stress management courses for teachers, Mental health, stigma, and awareness for civil servants and employees.

Subsidized trainings for the private and public sector:

Our pilot project was in an IDP (Internally Displaced Peoples) Camp in Abuja where we did a sensitization program for the children on proper hand-washing and this was in November 2019. Afterward, we built a hand wash station for the children at the camp. We were able to record a reduction in absenteeism by 70% and equally reduced visits of the children to the community clinic. This also reduced the prescription and usage of antibiotics.  

Our objectives – 

To promote healthy living.

To organize seminars, workshops, publish journals, newsletters as a contribution towards educating the general public on mental health, hygiene, antimicrobial resistance, and the practice of quality health care and holistic integrative medicine.

To advocate, encourage, and guide the general public on medicine compliance and healthy lifestyles.

Projected Goals for the next 24 months– Build 50 wash stations across Nigeria.

Train 2000 on good hygiene, communicable infections, and how to prevent it.

Educate/sensitize 1000 civil servants and employees on stress management and mental health.

 

What inspired you to apply for the Social Innovator Boot Camp and what unique lesson did you learn from the program?

I was hoping to find a fellowship program in Nigeria, I also wanted to attend a boot camp that would know the different curves being experienced by the nonprofits in this region (Africa). 

I learned that non-profit Organizations around the world face similar issues as we do here and as Founders/Directors we have a huge role to play.

We must tackle problems from the root cause to make a long-lasting change (advocacy).

 

As an advocate for health/personal hygiene, what motivated you into the sector?

I am a Pharmacist by profession. I attend a good number of patients frequently. I have discovered that most times, contacted sicknesses can be avoided.  As a mother of two children, I always make sure my children learn basic hygiene techniques and have access to hygienic areas and material/items.

I believe that this world will be a better place if all children can have access to basic hygiene items like my children.

 

How has been your journey so far in addressing the issues on health/personal hygiene especially with children?

It has been an interesting journey, more like a discovery.  It is indeed a long journey to give all children hygiene facilities. We will surely get there.

However, I have learned that partners, friends, and mentors are needed as they will help you go far in achieving your goals and objectives. We would also have to carry caregivers and parents along when we work with children so we can have an impact on the children and family unit as a whole.

 

What advice can you give to young people who want to be an advocate on the same sector?

My advice to young health advocates is that they should not relent in partnering with other advocates; instead, they should embrace collaboration as this will help the cause to achieve more impact.

They should also enjoy the journey.

 

To know more about Morolayo, and her amazing work in the development sector, you can follow her on:

https://www.instagram.com/thegoldhealthinitiative/

linkedin.com/in/morolayo-akpuluma-35523a160